Daniel 4 Commentary
From the earlier prophets, we know Nebuchadnezzar is the LORD’s tool used to inflict punishment on the nations, Israel included. Chapter 4 gives us more details. The LORD is actually interested in Nebuchadnezzar’s soul; can he find salvation through the sermons of Daniel?
The author elects to lift material from the king’s own writings. The king’s biographical material explains everything and communicates the message of the chapter. The author inserts a couple of lines in between but the entire chapter reports Nebuchadnezzar’s experiences in his own words.
The LORD gives Nebuchadnezzar a dream in which he is the tree that grows tall and ‘everything’ take shelter under its shade. But the king forgets that he is simply a tool in the hand of the LORD. He ascribes greatest to himself. He worships himself! We can pause here.
Many believers have gone past the temptation of worshiping idols, money included. And what a success story! But have they gone past the temptation of worshipping the ‘self’. How many ‘I’ appears in your thoughts, feelings, and actions? Even your spiritual maturity, is it not a product of your sacrifices and personal commitment? Where is the part of your God who is pulling strings behind the scenes?
“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Replace Babylon with your academic achievements, your social status, or may be your career. The picture looks bad!
The chapter makes the point that the LORD God supplies the ‘brains’ that make humans human. A small tweak on the design parameters and you are no longer human. You need another classification and another habitat other than the mansion.
Through the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar, we hear the key attributes of the Creator God: Resident in Heaven; Most High; lives forever; has an eternal dominion, enduring from generation to generation; He is sovereign, doing what He pleases; He cannot be questioned; what He does is right and just; and He humbles the proud. And Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction? He praised, honored, glorified, and exalted the King of heaven.
Yes. The LORD can use you to accomplish His purposes, but are you listed in the Book of Life as a child of the living God?
Scan your event logs and see the moments the LORD spoke to you through the events. The message was simple: you are not in charge of your own life. Reflect and humble yourself. Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.
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